The Irish Nurses' Organisation said earlier over 40 more people had been placed on hospital trolleys around the country within the last 24 hours because of a shortage of beds.
It says a total of 222 patients are now on trolleys, with 164 of these in Dublin hospitals.
Yesterday, the total figure was 180 people who had been left on trolleys.
In the largest hospital in the northeast, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, there were 11 patients on trolleys earlier today. In Cavan General Hospital, eight people were on trolleys.
This afternoon, a number of relatives of patients staged a protest at Leinster House about delays in Accident and Emergency departments.
Meanwhile in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said the Government is doing all it can to provide extra beds, through the provision of step-down facilities in private nursing homes.
Bertie Ahern was responding to criticism from a number of Opposition leaders over the issue.
And In the Dáil the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, promised improvements that will benefit all patients using A+E facilities.
Vomiting bug outbreak reported
In a separate development, visitors are being asked to stay away from Cavan General Hospital following what appears to be an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
The North Eastern Health Board said there are six suspected cases of the bug at the hospital.
In order to minimise the spread of the virus, it is asking people to restrict their visits to the hospital.
